The Fur Trade Quick review Europe wants wealth and power mercantilism imperialism Search for NW Passage to Asia John Cabot claims Nfld for England and discovers wealth in fish in the grand banks ID: 292017
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Slide1
The fight for the resources of Canada
The Fur TradeSlide2
Quick review
Europe wants wealth and power
=
mercantilism, imperialism Search for NW Passage to AsiaJohn Cabot claims Nfld for England, and discovers wealth in fish in the grand banks Jacques Cartier explores the St. Lawrence for France – sees value in fur, insults IroquoisSamuel de Champlain sets up colony of New France and starts the Fur trade for France, also makes enemy of the IroquoisSlide3
Exploration World MapSlide4
Champlain and the start of the fur trade
sets up colony of New France (
Quebec
), and is first Governor, in order to set up the
fur tradeAlliance with Huron – get furs, but hated by the IroquoisHire “Coureur s de Bois” – “runners of the woods” to explore inland, make alliances with Natives, set up fur tradeMany marry Native WomenStrong, independent, brave menSlide5
English and French Land Claims:
1645Slide6
Value in Fur
all fur valuable for clothing, coats, bedding
Beaver Fur
most valuable – under fur used to make felt for hats!
HUGE demand – new hat fashions each yearMonopoly on fur trade = mercantilism (makes that country the richest and most powerful)Slide7
Slide8
French Fur Trade
Various fur trading companies work for France(example:
Company of 100 associates
)
Workers are men each with a share in company, or independent workersMen canoe to Natives, and gather fursTrade goods including fire arms and alcohol to natives for fursCoureur de bois become VoyageursTake furs to Montreal, canoe out St. Lawrence to ship to FranceConstant interference with IroquoisSlide9
Voyageurs
Called themselves “
Canadiens
”
Fur traders from New France famous fro strength, endurance, knowledge of wildernessPaddled canoes between fort William and Montreal collecting furs – thousands of km Slide10
Voyageurs
Camp under canoe, sing songs, eat
pemmican
Pemmican: buffalo meat, fat, and berries
Portage = forced to carry goods / canoe/ furs over land to go around rapids, waterfalls, connect to new river Slide11
Radisson and
Groseillies
2 French
Voyageurs
(fur traders)Sick and tired of fighting the Iroquois on the St. Lawrence to ship fursAlternative: ship out Hudson’s BayTake idea to French King Louis XIV – he takes their furs and says NO!Go to English King Charles II – he says YES! and creates the Hudson’s Bay CompanySlide12
HBC and Rupert’s Land
England is
imperialistic
– Claim all the Land (and Fur) around Hudson’s Bay for England
Call it “Rupert’s Land” after Prince Rupert1670: King gives a Charter to the New Hudson’s Bay Company giving them all the rights to the land and fur trade in Rupert’s LandSlide13
HBC and Rupert’s LandSlide14
Land controlled by HBC in 1700Slide15
Land rights controlled by HBC in 1764 Slide16
Land rights controlled by HBC in 1850 Slide17
HBC Trading Post
Set up trading posts at mouths of rivers on
Hudson’s Bay
(and James’ Bay)
Natives bring furs to Trading Post (different form French voyageurs)See p. 259 for mapPosts manned year-round, but Ships come to take furs to England (and bring supplies) once per yearHead trader: FactorPower over Day to day in PostSlide18
HBC Trading Post
Staff:
clerks
, boat loaders and builders, carpenters, blacksmiths,
servants Are employees and paid a salary, work long hoursDiscouraged form marrying Native Women, banned from trading AlcoholBuildings: main depot, church, guest house, hospital, cooperage (barrels), smithy, bake house, fur storage, provisions house, officers’ quarters, servants quarters, etc.Slide19
HBC Trading Post
Long, cold
winter
Boring except when ship arrives – new supplies and letters form home = celebration!
Trade goods for furs (to natives)List p. 261Beaver pelts become currency1 “made beaver” (MB) or “buck” sets value/ priceSee chart p. 261Slide20
Map of Fort LangleySlide21
English and French: Monopoly
France and England both
Claim Land
and Fur rights - Both want a
monopoly Slide22
NWC
After 1763, the French Companies are combined (under Scottish/ American Ownership) to 1 company:
NORTH WEST COMPANY
Huge
competition between HBC and NWCNWC uses Voyageurs, controls st. Lawrence, great lakes and interior rivers/ lakes, deals directly with Native groupsForces HBC to move inland when they intercept/ take furs2 companies will merge in 1821Slide23
Women in Fur Trade
Traders married Native Women – called “
country wives
”
Half native, half French called “Metis”Women were interpreters, diplomats, negotiators, Knowledge was essential to survival of fur tradersMarried for social connections Provide knowledge of customs, knowledge of land, made snowshoes, moccasins, clothes, supplied local food, firewood, made and operated birch bark canoes, dried meat for winterSome men abandoned their country wives and returned to Europe